Friday Night Live is California’s leading youth development and substance use prevention program.
How We Started
The California Friday Night Live (FNL) Program was developed in 1984 in Sacramento as a pilot program aimed at reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by teens driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.
FNL came to SLO County in 1991, and launched in partnership with the County's Department of Drug & Alcohol Services to establish the San Luis Obispo County Friday Night Live Partnership. Since then, the program has grown to serve 13 middle schools and 9 high schools. In 2010, SLOFNL became the first in the state to have a college-level chapter when Cal Poly Friday Night Live (CPFNL) was started.
Standards of Practice
Skill Building
Meaningful Relationships
Safe Environment
Community Engagement
Leadership & Advocacy
Our Mission
SLOFNL creates partnerships for positive and healthy youth development, which engage youth as active leaders and resources in their communities.
Our programs are youth-led and youth-driven and provide support and opportunities for youth to build skills, knowledge, and attitudes that promote future success.
SLOFNL is committed to creating awareness and change around youth issues in San Luis Obispo County, including substance use, school climate, traffic safety, and mental wellness.
"FNL has helped me develop my leadership skills and build positive relationships with people from all walks of life."
- Friday Night Live Participant, 2018
Core Components
Opportunities
FNL provides opportunities for youth involvement in activities that are positive alternatives to alcohol or other drug use & opportunities to create positive and healthy environments
Outreach
FNL involves youth in outreach that engages youth and adults in building partnerships that create positive and healthy youth development
Skill Development
Youth in FNL build skills like leadership, organization, communication, resilience, and more through events and activities
Chapters
Youth-led FNL chapters at school sites work with an adult advisor to create positive changes in their school and community